Blue Moon Cafe offers healthy dining options

September 9, 2010

SHEPHERDSTOWN - For those craving a healthy dining option in Shepherdstown with a relaxing, interesting atmosphere, the Blue Moon Cafe might just be the choice for you.

Tucked away at the corner of Princess and High streets, the Blue Moon Cafe has the kind of laid-back, eclectic atmosphere you'd probably come to expect from a restaurant situated in a small college town.

When you first walk through the door you'll find that you are free to take your own menu and seat yourself. The interior is cozy with hardwood floors in the main seating area and red-painted walls decorated with various pieces of art, blue glass bottles and similar glass adornments. The cafe also offers spacious outside seating, perfect now that the oppressive summer heat has finally subsided.

The bohemian trappings meld well with the interesting and diverse menu choices available at the cafe.

Appetizers include tantalizing samplings such as crab meat and cheese oven-baked on English muffin wedges, as well as a Tuscan bean bruschetta that includes a savory blend of whole northern white beans, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and fresh basil served with toasted ciabatta fingers.

For the healthy minded, the menu also includes no less than a dozen salad dishes that include standards such as the traditional Cobb salad and spinach salad, as well as a number of interesting combinations like the sweet pear and gorgonzola salad and the tarrago chicken salad.

Fact Box

Blue Moon Cafe

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220 E. High St.

Shepherdstown, WV

304-876-1920

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Hours

Restaurant is open:

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.

to 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

Sunday noon to 3 p.m.

Pub is open:

Thursday-Saturday 9 p.m.

to midnight

Where the Blue Moon Cafe really shines is its sandwich menu. For starters, there is a sizable amount of noteworthy vegetarian dishes. While this Secret Gourmet is not adverse to consuming meat, it's nice to know there is a place nearby where those who do strictly adhere to the vegetarian lifestyle can go with family and friends without feeling left out of the dining experience.

Among the more interesting options were a Philly 'shroom sub made with portobello mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, mozzarella and sundried tomato-garlic mayonnaise, as well as vegetarian quesadilla made with fresh spinach, seasoned black beans, salsa, mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

The regular sandwich menu offers plenty of mouthwatering options. Feeling a little adventurous, this Secret Gourmet decided to try the beef and brie sandwich, which was an oven-roasted roast beef sandwich topped with melted brie and horseradish mayonnaise on French bread.

It certainly offered an interesting mix of flavors and, while the use of brie was a tad too liberal, it was delicious none the less.

The sandwich menu also includes favorites like the tuna melt, Reuben, chicken quesadilla, steak and cheese sub, French sub, crab cake sandwiches, burgers and other tastebud-tempting offerings like a buffalo chicken wrap and hand-pulled pork sandwich.

That's not to say that the Blue Moon Cafe only has sandwiches to offer. It also includes a pizza menu, as well as a dinner menu featuring crab cakes, meat loaf and eggplant parmesan.

For those who want to simply want to stick around and soak up the atmosphere, the cafe also features an expansive beer and wine list, as well as a champagne bar in addition to free Wi-Fi.